Seasonal allergies can make even the most mundane tasks challenging. Pollen is the main reason for such allergies, including those that flare up in summer. Here, learn about some of the most common summer allergy symptoms to help prepare for the season. If your symptoms are severe enough, you may want to consider allergy testing.

A Quick Guide To Summer Allergy Symptoms

1. Sneezing & Congestion

Inhaling pollen causes you to sneeze when you have allergies because your immune system recognizes the foreign bodies as threats. Sneezing is the body’s way of eliminating allergens, which is why you typically sneeze after inhaling dust, pollen, and other irritants. You may also experience nasal congestion because your body releases histamines to combat the “threats” (allergens), which causes the blood vessels in your nose to dilate.

2. Itchy, Puffy, & Watery Eyes

Released histamines can cause your eyes to water and become puffy because of increased inflammation. They may also feel itchy and become even more puffy and red if you rub them. Eye reactions can additionally stem from eczema and asthma, in addition to seasonal allergies.

3. Coughing

Also known as hay fever, seasonal allergies can make you cough. Common allergy-related cough triggers include ragweed, tree, and grass pollen, as well as fungal spores. Coughs follow postnasal drip symptoms where pollen irritates nose lining, resulting in mucus that drips down your throat. Hay fever coughs usually worsen at night because mucus cannot drain as efficiently.

4. Itchy Sinuses

Histamine-related inflammation and mucus often irritate the sinuses or facial cavities that filter and humidify the air you breathe. If the sinuses cannot drain swiftly because of inflammation and irritation, hay fever can result in sinus infections that include congestion, facial pain, and near-continual mucus drainage. 

If you experience these and other seasonal allergy symptoms, such as wheezing and headaches, regularly schedule allergy testing with St. Louis Allergy Relief Center. Offering a holistic approach to immunity issues, this center provides residents throughout Chesterfield, MO, and the surrounding areas with natural allergy relief assistance. Call (314) 384-9304 to schedule your appointment or learn more about seasonal allergies online. Get additional hay fever information on Facebook.